Singapore voted world's Best Business City for sixth straight year

Readers of the Business Traveller Asia-Pacific magazine have voted Singapore the Best Business City in the World for the sixth year running. Singapore Airlines, Changi Airport and the Shangri-La Singapore also clinched the top votes in several categories.

The annual Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Awards celebrate the best in business travel airlines and hotels in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

This year's ceremony was held at the Conrad Hotel Hong Kong last month. Mr Kevin Leong, the Singapore Tourism Board's Regional Director for Oceania and Senior Director of Special Projects, received the award for Best Business City in the World on behalf of the STB.

Commenting on the win, Mr Aloysius Arlando, the STB's Assistant Chief Executive of the Business Travel and MICE Group, said: "We are honoured and delighted to win this award. This is a testament to the continuing efforts of the Business Travel & MICE industry in Singapore to strive and deliver the best experience for business visitors.

"Singapore will continually refresh our product and service offerings to delight our business visitors with state-of-the-art MICE infrastructure and services for business efficiency. Singapore will not rest on our laurels and will continue to strive to build a robust pipeline of business events, and strengthen our position as a preferred destination for business and MICE events."

Singapore was clear favourite among the magazine's readers, who voted it a winner in the hotel and airline categories as well. The Shangri-La Singapore clinched the Best Business Hotel in Asia-Pacific and Worldwide award.

Singapore Airlines received five awards for Best Economy, Business and First Class, Best Asia-Pacific Airline and Best Airline overall. Singapore Changi Airport won two awards for Best Airport in the World and Best Airport for Duty Free.

The Business Travel and MICE (Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions and Exhibitions) sector currently contributes 32% (approximately S$ 3 billion) to Singapore's total tourism receipts.

The STB plans to grow this to at least $10.5 billion, or 35%, by 2015, through initiatives such as a global advertising and marketing campaign, "Singapore, Where Great Things Happen" and a new incentive scheme, "BE in Singapore", or "Business Events in Singapore".

Singapore has hosted some of the world's most prestigious events, including SIBOS 2003, the World Economic Forum and the 117th International Olympic Committee Session in 2005, and the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in September.